Harberton Folk, South Devon, Folk Circulars

Harberton Folk

Southern Devon folk email circulation

Home Southern Devon folk diary Unsubscribe

An email circulation list with currently around 1400 contacts provides regular information on folk events across southern Devon roughly within a 30 mile radius as the crow flies of Totnes. To join the list, email johnculf@harbertonfolk.co.uk for further information. Still relevant parts of the most recent emailed circulars are reproduced below, along with a developing Draft of the next, but check out the Diary for full listings.
The e-circulars are sent on a regular basis, usually one every 7-14 days, not more than one per week apart from exceptional circumstances (and never with any attachments).

Circulars dated: 28/1/12 18/1/12 11/1/12

date next

DRAFT NEXT Harberton Folk Circular - ??day ?? February 2012
Only a selection of events follows below - the full open-ended southern Devon Folk Diary listings appear on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk.

text

Wednesday 8 February 2012 - BBC Folk Awards
Live on BBC Radio 2 and on TV on the BBC Red Button

Friday 10 February 2012 8pm - Exeter Pride Ceilidh - Exeter Phoenix (map)
Exciting band: "One Night Only" led by Jason Rice of Dartmoor Pixie Band. Callers: Martin Hodge and Simon Maplesden. Song spot by Jim Causley. £6 adv / £7 door. Phoenix Box Office 01392 667080. Details: martin@phonic.fm. In support of Exeter Pride www.exeterpride.co.uk and open to all.

Friday 23 March 2012 8pm - Mike Harding - Exeter Corn Exchange (map)
The presenter of BBC Radio 2’s show Wednesday night folk and acoustic show makes a welcome return to performing. An evening of songs, daft stories and monologues from a man with more than 40 years of material to draw on. After 15 years concentrating on writing, broadcasting, fell walking and fly-fishing he has now returned to his roots with a vengeance. He will take you into his own comic world with stories and songs that have had audiences collapsing with laughter from South Shields to Sydney and Huddersfield to Hong Kong. Box office 01392 665938 www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=13841

Thursday 26 April 2012 - Karine Polwart - Exeter Phoenix (map)
Karine tours with her brother Steven Polwart (acoustic and electric guitars, ukulele, vocals) and singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Inge Thomson (accordion, percussion, loops, vocals). www.exeterphoenix.org.uk Tel. 01392 667080

Saturday 16 June 2012 - Kieran Goss - Exeter Phoenix (map)
Following the huge success of his recent special guest appearances with Eddi Reader and Fairport Convention, singer songwriter guitarist Kieran returns to the UK to headline his own solo tour. Superb musicianship and thoroughly engaging stage presence www.myspace.com/kierangoss. www.exeterphoenix.org.uk Tel. 01392 667080

More in brief - Full Diary listings and details on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk
Saturday 3 March - BBC Concert Orchestra with Seth Lakeman - Plymouth Pavilions
Thursday 8 March - The Dubliners - Plymouth Pavilions
Friday 16 March - Fisherman's Friends - Exeter Corn Exchange
Friday 23 March - Joan Baez - Plymouth Pavilions
Friday 6 April - Feast of Fiddles - Exeter Corn Exchange
Sunday 13 May - Davey Arthur & The Fureys - Exeter Corn Exchange
Sunday 27 May - Peggy Seeger - Northcott Theatre, Exeter

John Culf
johnculf@harbertondevon.co.uk
www.harbertondevon.co.uk
www.harbertonfolk.co.uk
If you'd like to be removed from the Harberton Folk email circulation, please follow this 'Unsubscribe link': www.harbertonfolk.co.uk/unsubscribe.htm.

Top

28/1/12

Harberton Folk Circular - Saturday 28 January 2012
Only a selection of events follows below - the full open-ended southern Devon Folk Diary listings appear on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk.

**********
Sunday 25 March 2012 8pm - Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham - Ariel Centre, Totnes (map)
The fiddle wizardry and accordion excellence (not to mention the wit!) of probably the best-known ambassadors of traditional Scottish music. Presented by Harberton Cricket Club (supported by Harberton Folk). Tickets only £15, students/U18s £12. See www.harbertonfolk.co.uk for full booking details.
Ticket sales have now passed the half-way mark. This may be the last time Aly & Phil head South-West for a while, so don't miss this opportunity!
**********

Richie's East Devon music listings - for February will be available here soon: www.harbertonfolk.co.uk/richie.htm
In the meantime, some interim news from Jeff Lewis: "A few changes in Exmouth. The Wednesday session in the Beacon Vaults has moved to the 1st Sunday of the Month in the Bicton Inn. The Old Barrell Jam session Monday Night has moved to the Bath House, Esplanade, Exmouth. The various Thursday sessions in the Barrell will be temporarily in abeyance."

Saturday 4 February 2012 8pm - Nicky Swann - Totnes FM Studio Lounge (map)
Doors 7pm. + special guests. Since launching her solo career in 2006 Nicky Swann has achieved a growing reputation in such a short space of time, singing from the heart and captivating audiences with her emotionally honest delivery. Bar. Details: www.livemusictotnes.com/#/whats-on/4558438373. Totnes FM, The Voice Of South Devon, Unit A, The Scope Complex, Wills Road, Totnes TQ9 5XN www.totnesfm.co.uk

Thursday 9 February 2012 - Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan - Otterton Mill nr Budleigh Salterton (map)
Barb's Mill visit in 2011 blew us away. This internationally lauded singer returns in 2012 with her powerful performance of one of the great musical icons of the twentieth century, Bob Dylan. Described by Billy Bragg as "possibly our best interpreter of Dylan's songs", Barb has won two New York awards for her exciting live shows and a devoted cult following for her passionate singing, subtle arrangements, artistry and humour. "Superlative" (The Independent) and "Sensational" (New York Times).Accompanied by pianist Jenny Carr. www.barbjungr.com www.ottertonmill.com

Thursday 9 February 2012 8.15pm - Tim Van Eyken - Grove Nite Club, Seaton (map)
The long awaited return of a great singer and musician to the folk scene after 3 years acting in War Horse and other productions. Award-winner solo and with Dr Faustus & Waterson Carthy. Check his sound at www.timvaneyken.co.uk and www.myspace.com/timvaneyken. Presented by Jurassic Folk & Acoustic. £5 adv / £6 door, details www.eastdevonfolk.org,

Friday 10 February 2012 9pm - Claude Bourbon - B-Bar, Barbican Theatre, Plymouth (map)
A breathtaking acoustic fusion of blues, jazz, folk, classical and Spanish guitar from a stunning guitar virtuoso from France. Tickets 01752 242021 or www.wegottickets.com/event/150833. www.b-bar.co.uk

Saturday 11 February 2012 8pm - Great Western Ceilidh with Red Shed - Bowhill School, Buddle Lane, Exeter (map)
Caller Pete Langley. £9 and concs. To book, call Alan Jones on 01392 217152 or email ceilidhs@great-western.org.uk. Further details: www.great-western.org.uk/ceilidhs

Saturday 11 February 2012 7.30pm - Ceilidh with Up The Creek - Kings Arms, Fore Street, Kingsbridge
Caller Ken Hudson. 'Up The Creek' are Nigel and Sarah Sture. Bar. Tickets £8 (includes sandwich supper), from Kingsbridge Information Centre or call 01548 854407. Nearest parking top of Fore Street or Cookworthy Car Park – access from Cookworthy Road only.

Sunday 19 February 2012 8pm - Jeff Davis (USA) with Brian Peters (UK) - Crabshell Inn, Kingsbridge (map)
Long term collaborators in exploring and making real the authentic music which got its strong stomach from travelling to and fro across the Atlantic: port to port, ranch to farm, mine to mine, pub to saloon, back and forth, over and again down the years. Great singers and multi-instrumentalists with virtuoso skills on fiddle, guitar, banjo, and reeds. www.jeffdavisoldmusic.com www.brian-peters.co.uk £10 advance booking: 01548 856601. £15 door. 20% off booked pre-concert meals, on: 01548 852345. More at www.shamstrad.co.uk.

Sunday 19 February 2012 8pm - Kris Drever with Eamonn Coyne - Topsham Folk Club, Globe Hotel (map)
Kris Drever is a talented guitarist and singer from the Orkney Islands whose debut solo album ‘Black Water’ won him the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2007. He is also an awards winner with Lau, the band he plays in with Aidan O’Rourke and Martin Green, winning ‘Best Group’ in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Kris is joined here by multi-instrumentalist Eamonn Coyne. £10. Call Brian Lewis on 01404 44498 to reserve tickets. www.topshamfolkclub.co.uk

Thursday 8 March 2012 8pm - Martin Carthy - Totnes Folk Song Club, Dartmouth Inn, Totnes (map)
The one and only! Advance tickets £9 available until end January only to regular members of Totnes folk club as a thank-you to them for their support for the club. Remaining tickets will be on general release from 1st Feb. Call Anne Gill 01803 290427 for reservations.

Saturday 24 March 2012 7.30pm - Brixham Irish Night with Maggie Duffy & Mike Weed - Brixham Museum
A 'post Paddy's celebration'. Prize draw. Mini supper for the interval half time break. BYO drinks. Tickets £7.50 available from Maggie on 07770 806083 or at the museum. Limited seats, book early.

Saturday 31 March 2012 7pm - Open Dance with PHOENIX - Marldon Village Hall (map)
For the TOADS Theatre Company. Dancing until 10.30pm. Tickets £8 including light refreshments (BYO drinks). Tickets available from nigel@phoenixbarndance.com.

Feature: The Brewhouse, Theatre & Arts Centre, Taunton
The Brewhouse, Coal Orchard, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JL, Box Office: 01823 283244 (map)
OK, it's well outside my normal coverage area but easily accessible, and they've asked me to publicise their folk events. (Local TV news very recently reported that The Brewhouse has lost a large chunk of its funding.)
Saturday 11 February 8pm - O'Hooley & Tidow
Part of the Outset Festival. They specialise in innovative chamber folk and release a new album in Feb called The Fragile. Details www.thebrewhouse.net/main-house/1221/ohooley-tidow
Saturday 25 February 7.45pm - Steve Knightley
Exeter-based singer-songwriter who writes the majority of the material for Show Of Hands, Steve and Phil Beer won Best Duo in the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Details www.thebrewhouse.net/main-house/1231/steve-knightley
Saturday 17 March 7.45pm - Croabh Rua
St Patrick's Day special. A rich sound, acounstically driven, this is traditional celtic fare at its best. www.thebrewhouse.net/main-house/1241/croabh-rua
Wednesday 9 May - Blazin' Fiddles - the only SW tour date (probably)

1-2-1 Melodeon Tuition
Ed Rennie, lead tutor with the Devon Squeezebox Foundation, is currently teaching melodeon to a number of people on a 1-2-1 basis at their homes. The advantage from the students' point of view is the courses are tailored to their needs and progress at their pace and they get to stay at home in the warm and dry and Ed does all the running about in the cold and dark! Ed has a number of students he visits once a month in the West Dartmoor/Plymouth area (Mary Tavy to Saltash). He has capacity to take on some more students in the area, so if you would be interested to learn the melodeon at home with Ed, give him a shout at devonsqueezebox@hotmail.co.uk. Melodeon hire also available.

WarHorse
An open invitation to the War Horse Folk Music School (19-23 March 2012, at the National Theatre Studio, London) from Co-Principals John Tams and Adrian Sutton. Details see www.flaxey-green.co.uk/Pages/latest_updates.html. Sorry, but closing date for applications (by email) is Sunday 29 January!

A Music Section for the Devonshire Association
The Devonshire Association www.devonassoc.org.uk which this year celebrates the 150th anniversary of its foundation will launch a new Music Section at The Plough Theatre, Torrington on Monday 13 February 2012.
An inaugural (business) meeting for members will be followed by an
Informal concert at 8pm in Theatre Foyer, featuring members who have been working to set up the Section, including Paul Wilson and Marilyn Tucker of Wren Music, Tom and Barbara Brown, Jim Causley, Chris Caldwell & Susie Hodder-Williams of Music on the Edge, Alan Rosevear, Dartmoor dialect singer Bill Murray, and Roots Acoustic (one of Wren Music’s county-wide youth bands led by Becki Driscoll). Concert free of charge, ends 10.30pm, non-members welcome.
The new Section plans to hold a series of prestigious events in S, N and E Devon over the next twelve months to promote the wide variety of music that has been or is being written and performed by Devon-based artists, and will be linking with the Baring Gould Folk Festival over the weekend of 27/28 October 2012.
The Music Section is to “promote and recognise music that is indigenous to or inspired by the County of Devon, through performance and study of all styles of music and musicians that demonstrate a connection with the county and its particular qualities”. It aims to organise musical events that both entertain and inform, drawing on all types of music created in Devon, from traditional and contemporary to classical, folk, jazz and rock. In the spirit of the Devonshire Association the section will promote both the study of music that is rooted in the county and foster musical creativity among its members. Musicians and non-musicians with a pride in music associated with Devon should find the new section a place to widen their appreciation of the county and a compelling reason to join the Devonshire Association. For more details contact the secretary to the Section, Alan Rosevear (01392 277271; rosevear1[at]aol.com, Brook Green House, Well Street, Exeter, EX4 6QE),

More in brief - Full Diary listings and details on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk
Saturday 3 March - BBC Concert Orchestra with Seth Lakeman - Plymouth Pavilions
Thursday 8 March - The Dubliners - Plymouth Pavilions
Friday 16 March - Fisherman's Friends - Exeter Corn Exchange
Friday 23 March - Mike Harding - Exeter Corn Exchange
Friday 23 March - Joan Baez - Plymouth Pavilions
Friday 6 April - Feast of Fiddles - Exeter Corn Exchange
Sunday 13 May - Davey Arthur & The Fureys - Exeter Corn Exchange
Sunday 27 May - Peggy Seeger - Northcott Theatre, Exeter

Top

18/1/12

Harberton Folk Circular - Wednesday 18 January 2012
Only a selection of events follows below - the full open-ended southern Devon Folk Diary listings appear on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk.

Wednesday 8 February 2012 - BBC Folk Awards
Live on BBC Radio 2 and on TV on the BBC Red Button

Saturday 11 February 2012 - Phil Beer Band - Electric Palace, Bridport
Only 4 dates on this year's tour, and this is the closest to Devon.

More folk coming to East Devon
Richie Evans, whose comprehensive music listings for E Devon are reproduced under 'Richie's East Devon Diary' on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk (and soon to appear directly on his own website, as I understand), is moving into higher end music promoting, especially in Folk, Acoustic and Roots music and aims to . put these events on on Sunday evenings throughout the year. His first major confirmed booking is Andy Irvine (Planxty, Patrick Street etc.), and he will be appearing at The Grapevine, Exmouth, on Sunday 15 April 2012. Details of all events will be available on the Grapevine's website in the music section at www.grapevineexmouth.com. Tickets are now on sale for Andy Irvine, priced £14 plus booking fee at www.wegottickets.com/event/151047.

Totnes Session News
Simon and Sue Williams report: "We have decided not to continue with the Kingsbridge Cocktail, as we’re overcommitted and there do seem to be plenty of things on in Totnes, for those who want to perform. If anybody would like to take it over, though, we’d be happy to support them.
There’s already an open mic session in the Kingsbridge every Wednesday, as we understand, which is open to song, music, poems and other performance forms. There’s also the Totnes Traditional Singing Session in the Bay Horse, also on a Wednesday, so you have to take your pick. Then there’s Mama Tokus’s Tongue Sandwich, first one Weds (18th) in The Barrel House."

Steve Chilcott's Exeter Express & Echo Folk, Roots & Acoustic Music Column
Do please spare just a couple of minutes to read what Steve is aiming to do with this and how your support could help ensure that it continues long-term, especially with new editorial management now in place at the newspaper. Read Steve's letter here: www.harbertonfolk.co.uk/stevechilcott.htm.

Feature: Concert programme for the Church House, South Tawton, nr Okehampton (map)
Intimate cosy venue. Seven Stars across the road, or BYO drinks. Advanced booking recommended due to limited capacity. Tickets from Mark or Sarah Bazeley on 01837 840775. See www.liveandacoustic.co.uk for further details.
Friday 24 February 8pm - Mick Groves with Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll
Former 'Spinner' Mick joins forces with the Devon based fiddle duo Nick and Becki to bring us an evening filled with music and song, both old and new.
Sold out Friday 23rd March - Andy Cutting
Friday 11 May 8pm - Issy & David Emeney with Kate Riaz
Issy, David and Kate perform a mix of traditional and original songs and tunes accompanied on an array of instruments including melodeon, cello and guitar. Beautiful melodies, great stories and terrific arrangements have become a trademark. “A must for folk lovers.” Vin Garbutt. 'truly astonishing musicians - quite brilliant - you’ll rarely see better” Tom and Barbara Brown. “A very talented trio - fine songs, great harmonies and excellent accompaniments” Pete Coe. “Make sure you see them - you won’t be disappointed” EDS Magazine

Feature - Live music evenings at Totnes FM Studio Lounge (map)
A variety of live music is now happening in the intimate atmosphere of the Studio Lounge (with bar) at 'The Voice Of South Devon', Unit A, The Scope Complex, Wills Road, Totnes TQ9 5XN www.totnesfm.co.uk, including:
Saturday 4 February 2012 8pm - Nicky Swann -
Doors 7pm. + special guests. Since launching her solo career in 2006 Nicky Swann has achieved a growing reputation in such a short space of time, singing from the heart and captivating audiences with her emotionally honest delivery.
Coming soon: 10/2 Darren Fisher; 3/3 Katie Marie & Keith Jones; 17/2 Simon Scott
See full details at www.livemusictotnes.com/#/whats-on/4558438373.

Top

11/1/12

Harberton Folk Circular - Wednesday 11 January 2012
Mostly new events once again in the main items below - the full open-ended southern Devon Folk Diary listings appear on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk.

Thursday 2 February 2012 - Tom McConville & David Newey - Otterton Mill nr Budleigh Salterton (map)
BBC Folk Awards Musician of the Year (2009), Tom is a singer and fiddle player extraordinaire. Drawing on traditional music from his Newcastle home with Irish, American and Scottish influences, he creates a truly original sound combining jazz, folk, bluegrass and classical roots. Tom's partnership with wonderful guitarist David Newey has won worldwide acclaim. Expect a heart-stopping performance, punctuated by Tom's inimitable Geordie wit. www.tommcconville.co.uk
And here's the rest of Otterton Mill's recently announed music programme through to Easter (full details at www.ottertonmill.com): 9/2 Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan; 23/2 Gary Fletcher; 8/3 Patsy Metheson & Becky Mills; 22/3 Craig & Willoughby; 29/3 Mark Butcher & Matt Taylor; 5/4

Friday 3 February 2012 8pm - Madison Violet - Victory Hall, Whimple
Since releasing their last album, No Fool for Trying, Madison Violet from Canada won the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for their track "The Ransom," took home the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year, and were nominated for multiple East Coast Music Awards and a 2010 JUNO Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year (Group). Enquiries 07548 278276. £8. www.myspace.com/madvioletmusic www.onawhimpromotions.co.uk

3/4 February 2012 - Wood Sisters Winter Storytelling Festival - South Devon Steiner School
Come and join the Wood Sisters to celebrate the winter festivals of Imbolc and Candlemas with a feast of myth, poetry and storytelling, meditation and ceremony, seasonal crafts and music… and delicious food! Details www.woodsisters.co.uk
(24-27 August 2012 - Westcountry Storytelling Festival - Embercombe, nr Exeter www.weststoryfest.co.uk)

Thursday 16 February 2012 - Steve Knightley - Exeter Phoenix (map)
One half of Show of Hands, Steve is touring solo with special guests Philip Henry and Hannah Martin. ‘Committed and distinctive songs of conscience, love and history’ – BBC Radio 2. www.exeterphoenix.org.uk Tel. 01392 667080
Also appearing: Sunday 4 March 2012 - Blackmore Theatre, Exmouth (map)

Saturday 18 February 2012 7.30pm - Ceilidh with Klezmer band "Kevara" - Cheriton Bishop Village Hall, nr Crediton (map)
Caller: Pam Hayes. Life enhancing joyful music to dance to. No need for a partner, and easy steps that everyone can do! Admission £8 (concs £6). Enquiries: 01647 24789

Thursday 1 March 2012 - Chris Smither - Exeter Phoenix (map)
The American folk/blues singer songwriter and guitarist tours with a new album. www.myspace.com/chrissmither £14.50. www.exeterphoenix.org.uk Tel. 01392 667080

Saturday 3 March 2012 8pm - Andy Clarke & Steve Tyler - Hazelwood House nr Loddiswell (map)
Folk singer & member of the ‘Mooncoin Ceilidh Band’ Andy Clark & ‘Daughters of Elvin’ member Steve Tyler will be coming to Hazelwood for an evening of traditional English songs & music. The night will feature performances with the hurdy-gurdy, citern, guitar and bouzouki. £15/£12 01548 821232 www.hazelwoodhouse.com. Pre-concert 6.45pm buffet supper available, booking essential.

Friday 9 March 2012 7.30pm - Johnny Coppin & Mike Silver - New Theatre, Exeter (map)
The combination of Johnny’s and Mike’s guitars gets right to the heart. £10. Booking details: www.cygnetnewtheatre.com/blog/2011/03/18/silver-coppi/

Somewhat out of our normal coverage area, but a great programme...
George Hotel, South Molton (map) www.georgehotelsouthmolton.co.uk Bookings 01769 572514.
Saturday 11 February 8.30pm - Dave Swarbrick
Saturday 25 February 8.30pm - North Sea Gas (Scottish)
Friday 16 March 8.30pm - Craobh Rua - St Patrick Tour
Saturday 31 March 8pm - Appalachia - A Shammick Abroad concert

Totnes Singing Session & Radio Programme
"The Totnes Singing Session, which I was running at the Albert Inn in Bridgetown, is now going to be held at the Bay Horse Inn, every Wednesday at 8.30pm. It's still unaccompanied, trad, British and Irish.
Also, Sam Richards and I are going to be starting a monthly folk programme on Soundart Radio called Roots Britannia. We will be covering as much of the folk music and dance scene of South Devon and further afield as we can. We are having a party to launch the programme which will be at the Kingsbridge Inn, Totnes on the 20th January at 8pm. We are looking for local folkies to perform at this party and we are also looking for people later on to come and play in the studio. We will also plan to start recording at any sessions and clubs that are open to such things so as to gather material for the programme. This will be an opportunity for free advertising for any sessions, clubs and performers that want to be involved. - Will Fox"

Plymouth Community Choir Seeks New Members
Plymouth Community Choir relaunched in Jan 2012 with an inspiring new leader, Alison Whittall. The choir performs songs and rounds from all over the world, with plenty of songs in English. Everything is taught by ear, in bite-size chunks, so no experience necessary. Free taster session. PMC meets 6.45-8.45pm Monday nights - Unitarian Church Hall, Notte Street, Plymouth PL1 2AQ. Contact Alison 01363 774324 (website www.alising.co.uk) or Jean 01752 217479.

Newspaper competition to win Fairport tickets
In the first of a new monthly folk column by Steve Chilcott in the Exeter Express & Echo last Thursday there was a competition to win tickets to see Fairport Convention at Exeter Corn Exchange on Sun 29 January at 7.30pm:
"We have two pairs of tickets, worth £37 a pair, to give away to two winners in our great competition - plus a copy of 'Festival Bell' for one runner-up. To be in with a chance of winning, email/write and tell us the name of the Fairport line-up that recorded the 1971 folk-rockeretta 'Babbacombe Lee'. Send your answer, along with your own name, address and telephone number to Sue Kemp, Features Editor, Express & Echo, Heron Road, Sowton, Exeter EX2 7NF or email skemp@expressandecho.co.uk by Sunday, January 15. Usual E&E competition rules apply."
[Ed: I trust I'm not contravening any such 'rules' by reproducing the competition here - I'm only doing so with the best of intentions. The more response Steve is seen to get to his column, the better its chance of being a lasting feature. (Steve is the guy who brought Richard Thompson to Exeter a few years ago - and is bringing Bully Wee Band + Phil Beer to Budleigh on Jan 20th.)]
Corn Exchange Box office: 01392 665938 www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=13836

Feature: Folk on the Moor Club, Westward Inn, Lee Mill www.moorfolk.co.uk
The club meets weekly on Sunday evenings, starting at 7.45pm prompt. Book by email folkonthemoor1@gmail.com. Upcoming guest nights:
Sunday 29 January - Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston
With a fabulous musical pedigree, working alongside the lies of Leon Rosselson and Show of Hands, Miranda has superb double bass and vocal skills, her complemented by the astonishing mandolin playing of Rex Preston. £7/£9
Sunday 12 February - Damien Barber & Mike Wilson
The pairing of the lead singer from the "Demon Barbers" with a member of the renowned Wilson family from Teeside was bound to be successful and so it proves. Great songs, both traditional and modern, expertly sung and accompanied. £8/£10
Sunday 25 February - David Newey
First rate young singer/songwriter/guitarist, David is a former finalist in the BBC Young Folk Musician of the Year awards, is much in demand as a guitar teacher and often tours with/accompanies the excellent Tom McConville.

Feature: New series of concerts coming to St Mary's Church, Brixton (map) nr Plymouth
All proceeds towards much needed repairs and building work. Tickets £6, reservations to PCC secretary on 01752 881638. Refreshments available. Full details of all concerts at www.brixton-village.co.uk/folkconcerts.htm (and in the Harberton Folk Diary):
Saturday 17 March - Lucy Ward
+ support. Lucy has a phenomenal voice and is twice nominated in this year's Radio 2 Folk Awards. She plays guitar and concertina and has a lovely array of material that takes in both modern and traditional folk as well as her own pieces. www.lucywardsings.com
Thursday 26 April - Richard Grainger & Chris Parkinson
+ support. Richard has an unforgettable voice quality and a great repertoire; Chris is one of the most talented and respected accordion and melodeon players in the business. They are a terrific combination! www.myspace.com/richardgrainger www.chrisparkinsonmusic.co.uk
Friday 1 June - Sarah McQuaid
+ support. "Brilliant musicianship, a warm and welcoming stage presence and a voice as rich, matured and knowing as the finest thrice-distilled Irish malt whiskey." www.sarahmcquaid.com

Exeter Phoenix Jan-Mar 2012 programme
includes: 5/2 Daughter; 16/2 Steve Knightley; 19/2 Breabach; 1/3 Chris Smither; 2/3 Beth Jeans Houghton; 17/3 Mad Dog Mcrea; 18/3 Jim Moray; 21/3 Gretchen Peters; 19/4 John Renbourn & Robin Williamson; 10/5 The Martin Marley Band. See www.exeterphoenix.org.uk for full details, where the full brochure can also be downloaded as a PDF file. Links to Myspace sound samples for most on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk.

Feature: Totnes Folk Song Club
Totnes FSC meets on the second Thurs of the month upstairs at the Dartmouth Inn, Totnes (map) and offers a mix singers/musicians and guest nights. Information from Anne & Steve Gill 01803 290427 or Andy Clarke 01803 732312:
Thursday 8 March 2012 8pm - Martin Carthy
The one and only! £8 performers £9 non-performers. Advance tickets available until end January only to regular members of Totnes folk club as a thank-you to them for their support for the club. Remaining tickets will be on general release from 1st Feb. Call Anne Gill 01803 290427 for reservations.
Thursday 10 May 2012 8pm - Brian Peters
First visit from the brilliant singe/songwriter/guitarist/squeezebox player.

Feature: Jurassic Folk & Acoustic - Grove Nite Club, Seaton (map)
...has basically been running as a singers club for nearly 5 years. "Things have been going well, with regular attendances of 60 - 70, and this has encouraged us to take the step of starting up regular monthly Guest Nights (1st Weds) in addition to the regular Singers Nights (3rd Weds), but exceptions will occur if we need to change a date to get a specific guest artist, which it has for the first one:"
Thursday 9 February 2012 8.15pm - Tim Van Eyken
The long awaited return of a great singer and musician to the folk scene after 3 years acting in War Horse and other productions. Award-winner solo and with Dr Faustus & Waterson Carthy. Check his sound at www.timvaneyken.co.uk and www.myspace.com/timvaneyken
Wednesday 7 March 2012 8.15pm - Tim Edey Collective
Tim Edey is quite simply the best exponent on both button accordion and guitar in the Celtic music genre. A double 2012 Folk Awards nominee. Samples at www.myspace.com/timedey.
Wednesday 4 April 2012 8.15pm - Lucy Ward
Brilliant young singer, double nominee for 2012 Folk Awards, she could turn the dictionary into a song to die for. Headed for great things, catch her now! Samples at www.lucywardsings.com.
All shows (inc support) 8.15pm. Tickets £5 adv / £6 door (if any). Advance tickets available online at www.eastdevonfolk.org or in person at any prior (3rd Weds) Jurassic Folk session. Enquiries 01297 20064 or email peter@eastdevonfolk.org.

Feature: Bradninch Folk Club
Club nights (free) 8.45pm start at the White Lion on Tuesdays 10 Jan, 7 Feb, 6 Mar. For floor spots available on guest nights phone 01392 881105.
Tuesday 21 February 2012 8.30pm - Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys - Castle Hotel, Bradninch
Somerset's finest "All acoustic, foot stompin' stuff". Original performance in the traditional bluegrass style. One of the most exciting and innovative bands on the bluegrass circuit. Combining the tradition of a single-mic performance with all-acoustic instruments, blistering four-part harmonies, a strong original & classic setlist and a no-compromise determination to always give a top notch, 100% performance. www.myspace.com/thunderbridgebluegrass £4
Tuesday 20 March 2012 8.30pm - Rosie Eade & Davey Malone - Castle Hotel, Bradninch
Rosie Eade "Folk-Pixie": Solo musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, playing lively and evocative life inspired songs of her own, interspersed with carefully chosen traditional songs, all arranged around her love of folk, rock and thrashing her old nylon strung guitar. Equally at home within the folk, rock and acoustic genres. www.myspace.com/rosieeade. Davey Malone (AKA Hobo Jones) Davey has a unique combination of Raw Trash Folk, Acoustic Punk, and Comedy. Blending originals and quirky re-worked covers, he can tailor his vocal style to suit. A wonderful counterpoint to Rosie but they combine their performances to great effect. www.myspace.com/dirtydavey

More in brief - Full Diary listings and details on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk
Saturday 3 March - BBC Concert Orchestra with Seth Lakeman - Plymouth Pavilions
Thursday 8 March - The Dubliners - Plymouth Pavilions
Friday 16 March - Fisherman's Friends - Exeter Corn Exchange
Friday 23 March - Mike Harding - Exeter Corn Exchange
Friday 23 March - Joan Baez - Plymouth Pavilions
Friday 6 April - Feast of Fiddles - Exeter Corn Exchange
Sunday 13 May - Davey Arthur & The Fureys - Exeter Corn Exchange
Sunday 27 May - Peggy Seeger - Northcott Theatre, Exeter

Top

General items retained from previous circulars

**********
Sunday 25 March 2012 8pm - Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham - Ariel Centre, Totnes (map)
Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and accordion wizard Phil Cunningham are probably the best known of all musicians in the Celtic tradition and have toured together regularly since 1988. On five visits to major Totnes area venues since 2003 they have sold out on every occasion. 2012 will be no exception. Book early! Presented by Harberton Cricket Club (supported by Harberton Folk). Tickets £15, students/U18s £12. See www.harbertonfolk.co.uk for full booking details.
**********

New 'Folk Roots and Acoustic Music' feature coming soon in Exeter's weekly Express & Echo
A reminder that Steve Chilcott has asked me to flag up a new, regular ‘Folk Roots and Acoustic Music’ feature soon to appear in Exeter’s now weekly ‘Express & Echo’. The column, which will begin on January 5th, will feature interviews, record reviews, concert/gig previews/listings/reviews, focussing on anything happening within an acceptable car-distance of Exeter and from within the wide spectrum of roots-based music that you might be unsurprised to find at Cambridge Folk Festival, on Mike Harding’s Radio 2 Weds night show, or in fRoots Magazine. Steve has been involved in promoting from club to concert level since the mid-70s, plays guitar passably well, and would like to hear from promoters, club organisers, venue managers, artists, agents and record companies operating within this field. Contact Steve by email info@gypsymusicpromotions.co.uk or text/phone 07891 663044.

Top

BBC Folk Awards (and Young Folk Award) 2012 Nominations
...have just been announced. For anyone interested see www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/11_november/18/folk.shtml.

Morris sticks
I can supply limited quantities of hazel Morris sticks, bark-on or stripped, cut to required size and slight overlength. For collection only, from Harberton. Please reply to this email if interested. - JC

Top

Stage by Stage - Recovery from Performance Anxiety/Stage Fright
A new group is starting up in Harbertonford for musicians/singers/poets/storytellers or anyone who performs, but is held back by fear of performing. I have started this group up as I wanted something for my own stage fright, but couldn't find anything. The idea is to provide a supportive, non-pressurised setting for people to share their experiences and perform (if they feel ready) to a small group of people who understand what it feels like to forget words/shake/want the ground to swallow you up/panic etc... Nobody will be made to perform, and those that do will feel no pressure to do any more than they are ready to do. It is my hope that this group will be a stepping stone to help people get back out there to share what they can do with a wider audience. For more details, please contact me on 0752 7006 437 or email at stagebystage11@gmail.com.

Computer scam warning
I'm always very wary of any request (and I receive many) to forward warnings of "deadly viruses that will destroy your hard disk…" etc. as such emails are practically always hoaxes (just pick a few salient words from any such email, Google them together and this will usually yield descriptions of the hoax).
HOWEVER (and this scam is somewhat different)…
I know for a fact that a number of Harberton residents have recently received one or more 'international' calls (foreign, Indian sounding) purporting to be from Microsoft support or similar, saying that the person's computer had been reporting potentially damaging faults and the caller would talk the person through sorting it out.
If you were to fall for the chat, you would be giving the caller remote access to your computer, which they then utilise to create faults/errors which they then offer to clear for a fee (about £70-80). Having gained access to your card details, they can help themselves - more than once - and leave you with a faulty computer.
Be warned. They can be persistent and convincing.

Top

Exeter Corn Exchange Launches Autumn/Winter Programme dates to May 2012 - see www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3056 for full details, all events bookable now), including:
29/1 Fairport Convention; 17/3 Elkie Brooks; 23/3 Mike Harding; 6/4 Feast of Fiddles; 13/5 Davey Arthur & The Fureys

New Open Mic evenings
Friday 9 September 7.30pm - Kingsbridge Cocktail - Kingsbridge Inn, Totnes (map)
The first Kingsbridge Cocktail - a new open mic evening, designed to replace the former Maltster’s Mash at Tuckenhay. Format will be much the same, with the usual mix of songs, poems, stories and music, in fact anything anybody wants to do in their 5 minute slot. The jazzy surroundings of the cocktail bar might bring out our cool, laid-back sides a little more, who knows. Assuming this first session is well supported, Simon and Sue hope to make The Cocktail a regular monthly event.
Sunday 11 September 8pm - The Windjammer, Dartmouth
"We're starting a new open mic night, aiming for the second Sunday in the month. Contact Andy thewindjammerinn@gmail.com with are any queries. We're aiming for a folk/roots/acoustic blues feel to the evening."

Top

Morris and other dance teams
It's the time of year when most local dance teams welcome new members (with or without experience) as they head for the winter practice season. If you're looking for a good form of exercise and social experience, get in touch with your local dance team. www.flaxey-green.co.uk is an ideal place to look for further information and contact details. For example:
Dartmoor Border - a mixed Border Morris side - is having a recruiting evening at Meavy village hall on Weds 19 Oct 8pm, where any new member who turns up and actively takes part in either learning a dance tune or comes as a dancer will get treated to a FREE PINT afterwards. See www.dartmoorbordermorris.com for details.
Plymouth Morris Men - Open evening on Weds 12 Oct 8pm at City Bus Social Club, Alma Road, Milehouse, Plymouth PL3 4HA, recruiting dancers and musicians. Details on www.plymouthmorrismen.org.uk (which also mentions a FREE PINT).
Heather and Gorse Clog Morris (North West style) invite new dancers and musicians to join them every Wednesday 8-9.30pm for their practice sessions of the Autumn 2011 season in Combeinteignhead nr Newton Abbot. For details and contacts see www.heatherandgorse.org.uk. Heather and Gorse are dancing at street venues in the centre of Newton Abbot on Sat 24 Sept.
Sidmouth Steppers are also recruiting dancers and musicians, with "taster sessions" on Tues 4 and 11 Oct at 7.30pm. See www.sidmouthsteppers.com for contact details.
It's the time of year when most local dance teams welcome new members (with or without experience) as they head for the winter practice season. If you're looking for a good form of exercise and social experience, get in touch with your local dance team. www.flaxey-green.co.uk is an ideal place to look for further information and contact details.
reads "Dartmoor Border Morris is having a recruiting evening, where any new member who turns up & actively takes part in either learning a dance tune ,or comes as a dancer, will get treated to a FREE PINT afterwards to be held at Meavy village hall on Wednesday 19th October, 8pm. Everyone welcome!"
Shuffle The Deck Appalachian Cloggers
will welcome new members, male and female, at their regular practice venue: Staverton Court Room (just behind the Sea Trout Inn), Wednesdays 7.30pm, from 21 September. Information from Jenny Draper 01364 643320. www.shufflethedeck.co.uk

Bradninch Folk Club, nr Cullompton (map)
Bradninch Folk Club meets every Tuesday fortnight, alternating between the Castle Hotel and Ye Old White Lion. Forthcoming dates: 6/9 Tobias Jacob in solo performance. Key member of Lampliter, Roots Union & School of Trobar. 4/10 Lara Conley. 11/10 Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston. 1/11 Phil Henry & Hannah Martin. 29/11 Ben & Alfie Weedon. 13/12 Joint concert with Bradninch Music Club at the Guildhall with a solo performance by Reg Meuross. Other dates are club nights. More info from Gerard 01392 881105. http://bradninchevents.org/folkclub.aspx

Workshops in N Devon
'Dealing with Nerves in performance' (14-16/10 & 11-13/11) Learn techniques developed by teachers, performers and psychologists alike to stop negative thought patterns and enable a more relaxed mind while performing. For any instruments. With harpist Sarah Deere-Jones. 'Home Recording' (23-25/9 & 28-30/10) Learn how to produce a professional quality master CD on your own computer, software provided. With Phil Williams. More details available on the 'Courses' page on www.cornwallharpcentre.co.uk

Morris Clogs Size 4/5
[Ed: This is a one-off 'For Sale' item, Ed.'s privilege, for the better half! Sorry, but Harberton Folk does not otherwise carry For Sale ads.]
Any North West Morris or step cloggers reading this? My wife Jan has a pair of Morris clogs which are looking for a new home. Hand made by Trefor Owen, Gibson design, black leather uppers with red stitching and rubbers on the soles. Labelled size 4 but fitted Jan's size 5 even with an insole. Very little wear. On Trefor's website they are now £150 to buy new! Jan would like £25 for them. Please reply to this email if interested.

Top

Devon Squeezebox Foundation - Autumn Melodeon Workshops
Ed Rennie and Devon Squeezebox Foundation are already looking towards the autumn season for melodeon workshops. Ed says “We always try to take the lessons to where people are, rather than expect them all travel miles. As we already have some students in the South Hams, that seems a pretty good plan to find more!”
Ed can offer 1-2-1 melodeon lessons at your house or, if there are sufficient numbers to make it work, group lessons at a central venue, for example last year they used The Old School Community Centre in South Brent.
All abilities are catered for, from the absolute “which way is up?” beginners to the more experienced. If you already own of have access to a D/G melodeon, great! If not, Devon Squeezebox Foundation has a limited number of instruments for hire, so you can benefit from the use of a good instrument and first class tuition before you have to make the decision to invest in your own. We also have a number of Piano Accordions for hire and possibly some English Concertinas! How good is that?
Contact Ed Rennie on devonsqueezebox@hotmail.co.uk or ring 01363 774426.

Top

The editorial bit - "An interesting online TV music source":
www.harbertonfolk.co.uk already links to various folk music radio programmes available on BBC's iPlayer, but I've just found some quality music programmes (e.g. Julie Fowlis presenting material, concerts from festivals etc.) on BBC ALBA, the BBC's Gaelic language channel, available in England only through iPlayer, as live TV (TV licence required!) or in some cases for replay after broadcast. I only discovered this because I often use www.freeview.co.uk/freeview/TV-Guide to check for Freeview programmes, and BBC ALBA appeared in these listings only recently. (Sheepish devotees may also be interested in 'Seonaidh' - no Gaelic required.) - John Culf

East Devon music listings
Richie Evans runs an email information service for the acoustic music scene (multi-genre including folk) in East Devon. This includes a monthly listing at the start of each month, plus updates as and when. I recently put a new page entitled 'Richie's East Devon Diary' on the Harberton Folk website (www.harbertonfolk.co.uk/richie.htm), into which I will copy the July listings as soon as they are available.

Top

The editorial bit - "Listen to the music":
"Not intended as a regular feature in these e-circulars, but occasionally I like to share a few thoughts which may be of interest.
I try to encourage contributors to the website Diary to include links to music samples on Myspace etc. in their items as I believe that good samples can help to sell tickets. Or I may often research such links myself. My work means I spend a lot of time at the computer and I enjoy listening to music whilst working, so the other day I decided to start working my way through all the music samples presently linked to in the Diary on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk, many of which are musics I'd not normally listen to. A thoroughly interesting and worthwhile exercise though - and as a direct result we're having an unexpected trip over to Otterton Mill on Fri 24th June to hear Chuck Brodsky from the US (see below). Sounds a bit like a young Dylan to my ear. Perhaps we'll see you there." - John Culf

Top

East Devon music listings
Richie Evans runs an email information service for the acoustic music scene (multi-genre including folk) in East Devon. This includes a monthly listing at the start of each month, plus updates as and when. I've put a new page entitled 'Richie's East Devon Diary' on the Harberton Folk website (www.harbertonfolk.co.uk/richie.htm), into which I will endeavour to regularly copy the monthly listings (but not the interim updates). See that page for contact details to receive Richie's emails directly. The June Diary is there now.

Out of our normal coverage range, so a one-off mention for...
10-24 September 2011 - St Ives September Festival
Massive line-up: Big Chris Barber Band; Barbara Dickson & Sean Taylor; Brodsky Quartet & Jacqui Dankworth; Martin Simpson Band; Lau + Adrian O’Reilly; Carthy Swarbrick; Show of Hands & Miranda Sykes + Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin; Seth Lakeman; Brij Narayan & Piu Sarkhel; John Etheridge & John Williams; Mark Thomas; Johnny Cowling; Focus + The Crazy World of Arthur Brown; Adrian Edmondson & the Bad Shepherds; Joey the Lips + Shade of Red; David Gibb & Elly Lucas; Maggie Boyle; Comedy Night; Po' Girl; Gordon Giltrap; Ben Waters; Johnny Coppin & Mike Silver; Wizz Jones; Benny Gallagher; Attila the Stockbroker; Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys. www.stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk

Trade Winds (Scoriton) / Maltsters Mash (Tuckenhay) sessions update
Simon and Sue have reluctantly decided to discontinue the monthly Maltsters Mash sessions in Tuckenhay but hope to be involved with a replacement session in the autumn. In the meantime, the last Trade Winds at Scoriton before the summer break will take place on Sun 26 June at the Tradesmans Arms. There will also be a special 2-hour Trade Winds at the Ways With Words festival at Dartington, on Sun 17 July 6pm in the Upper Gatehouse. Call 01364 631506 for further info.

Top

A few notes about these listings - what gets listed, what doesn't... etc.
The listings primarily include 'folk' events, mostly of a concert nature, also folk club guest nights, folk workshops, ceilidhs / barn dances etc.
'Folk' of course means many things to many people so that's partly why I also include limited coverage of some Americana, blues and other acoustic music events, but also partly because there are dedicated people/venues in the area putting on top-class performers in these fields - and they take the trouble to send me information. (The 'other musics' will generally have shorter entries and fewer repeats.)
My preferred length for entries is 50-75 words, 100 words max. This length restriction, combined with a 'selection of events only', means that the overall length of each e-circular does not become excessive (and unduly sleep-inducing!). The full open-ended Diary is always available on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk.
If you're submitting stuff to me for inclusion, why not give a web link to online music samples? Most performers have them these days. And there's then a chance the reader will take a listen, perhaps like what they hear, and maybe even come to a gig they wouldn't have otherwise considered!
I don't include information about regular informal pub folk sessions or folk (social) dance club material - these areas are well covered by www.flaxey-green.co.uk and www.devonfolk.co.uk. - but I will list details of new sessions, for example.
The general distance qualifier has always been 'within 30 miles as the crow flies from Totnes' (covers a surprisingly wide range), although this does get stretched a little sometimes for items of potential wider South-West interest.
The e-circulars are sent to approx. 1400 folk-specific contacts (no telling of course how many fail to arrive for whatever reason, although I do my best to maintain the email list - several repeated rejections from the same address will result in that address being deleted) The great majority of those contacts are within the above coverage area.
And please don't be offended if I occasionally forget - or even refuse - to include an item.
Keep enjoying the live music! - John Culf

"Denbury Unplugged" Feedback
"What an amazing evening down the Union on May 13th!! Lots of people came to support, but stayed to enjoy. The Old Gaffers produced that wonderful male-voice-choir-with-attitude shanty sound. The Park Bench Aristocrats got everyone moving and singing. And Ben Hewlett’s harmonica playing blew everyone away. After an awesome raffle, the Denbury musicians led the singing, and the whole audience joined in with gusto. What better way to support a charity which uses the power of music to enable and involve, than by doing it yourselves. Share Music South West will benefit by £500 (yes you read that right!!) from the night. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. - Rachel B."

Top

d'Accord! French & Breton Dance
Fridays 20 May and 17 June from 7pm - Ide Village Hall, Ide, Nr Exeter (map)
Regular French and Breton dance with live music, Poisson Rouge and friends, for experienced and beginner. Workshop 7-8pm. Dance 8pm.
11/12 June 2011 - Summer Bal & Picnic - Gidleigh Village Hall
On Dartmoor with Special Guests Pibau Planed who play Breton and French dance music on a variety instruments, and of course, Poisson Rouge. Noon to noon. Advance tickets £12 now available.
Email for info daccorddance@gmail.com or call 01837 871498. Details http://d-accordinexeter.blogspot.com

New American session at the Burrator Inn, Dousland
Open acoustic session of American roots music (old time, bluegrass, western swing, country and Americana) at the Burrator Inn, Dousland on alternate Wednesdays at 8.30pm. Next dates 11th and 25th May. Contact: Martin Roberts on 01822 855452 or email martinr.54[at]virgin.net for more information.

General update on pub sessions in the Kingsbridge area:
1st Tues - Globe Inn, Frogmore tel 01548 531525
1st Thurs - Crabshell Inn, Kingsbridge (singers night) tel 01548 853351
2nd Weds - Royal Oak, Malborough tel 01548 531525
3rd Thurs - Globe Inn, Frogmore tel 01548 531525
Last Weds - King's Arms, Kingsbridge (new session - mixed tunes & songs, all welcome) tel 01548 531525

Brixham Folk Club
Anne Gill asks me to give this relatively new club another mention, meeting every 1st Friday at 7.30pm in the Lounge/Bar of the Brixham Theatre, Bolton Square, Brixham, Devon TQ5 8TA (map). Hosts are Anne and Steve Gill, with Maggie Duffy. Contact John Miles on 01803 858394 for more information. These details are now included on the Folk Song Clubs page on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk. Next club night: Fri 1 April (no fooling!)

Top

Sid Vale Folk Choir...
"...are looking for invitations to go to clubs to sing. We just did a charity concert in the company of some notable folkies like Reg Meuross and Phil Beer... with very favourable comments and compliments being made. Now the choir are really "up" for more performances. So do get in touch if you'd like to give us a spot (minimum 4 songs - not fair on a choir to do less) one night? Or at any weekend/special folk event? http://sites.google.com/site/sidvalefolkchoir"

New - Weekly - Singing Session at the Albert Inn, 32 Bridgetown, Totnes TQ9 5AD (map)
Every Wednesday, 7.30pm start, in the back bar (started a couple of weeks ago). "A warm welcome to new members! The theme of the session is unaccompanied songs from the British Isles and Ireland, mostly traditional but there is room for contemporary songs that stand up to the old ones. We go round in a circle and sing and drink and make jolly. Chorus songs that we can all join in with are of course the main stay but there should be plenty of room for non-chorus ballads etc too."
See www.flaxey-green.co.uk for pretty comprehensive listings of the many different types of regular sessions happening in our coverage area (and much more local folk information besides, including For Sales and Wanteds).

Top

Session news
New Second Sunday acoustic folk session (starts 12 noon) at the Thorverton Arms, Thorverton. Pub also does Sunday dinners.

Brixham session news
"Really good folk night going on at Brixham's Ernie Lister Bar, Quay Side Hotel, with Swashbuckle and ex Faraway Folk musicians. Plus many guests always there. First Thursday in the month. Now in its fith year!" - contributed

Top

Ever thought of learning a squeezebox?
"Then have a gawp at the Devon Squeezebox Foundation website! We are running monthly workshops for English Concertina, Melodeon and Piano Accordion for all levels from absolute beginners upwards. AND we have a number of English concertinas and melodeons for hire, so if you fancy learning but have no instrument, no worries! Check out www.devonsqueezebox.co.uk or call Ed Rennie on 01363 774426 for this Autumn's workshops dates for North, South, East and West Devon."

Wren Music folk orchestras and choirs new term...
...starts in the week commencing 20th September. You don’t need to read music, there are no auditions, and it’s not a competition! Adults groups are:
Rough Music East Devon Folk Orchestra – Mondays - Broadclyst Victory Hall, EX5 3DX, led by David Faulkner
Folk Orchestra of North Devon - Mondays - Plough Arts Centre, Torrington EX38 8HQ, led by Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll
Torbay Folk Choir– Tuesdays - Goodrington Methodist Church Hall, TQ4 7LG, led by Rosa Rebecka
Folk Orchestra of West Devon - Tuesdays - Okehampton College Room 712, EX20 1PW, led by Emma Welton
West Devon Folk Choir – Tuesdays - Okehampton College Room 617, EX20 1PW, led by Paul Wilson
Voices In Common Exeter Folk Choir - Wednesdays - Pinhoe Road Baptist Church Hall, Exeter EX4 7HZ, led by Paul Wilson
Folk Orchestra of Torbay – Thursday - Palace Theatre, Paignton TQ3 3HF, led by David Faulkner
South Molton Folk Choir - occasional Saturdays - George Hotel, South Molton EX36 3AB, led by Sarah Owen
Full details of all these, and folk choirs and bands for young people (including the county ensembles Roots A Capella and Roots Acoustic Band) at www.wrenmusic.co.uk or call 01837 53754.

Top

New folk website in the South Hams
I've just become aware of www.shamstrad.co.uk which gives details of what's happening at the Crabshell in Kingsbridge (concerts/regular session) and the sessions at the Globe Inn in Frogmore and the Royal Oak in Malborough.

Dartington pub looking for music
Mark the new landlord at the newly refurbished Cott Inn, due to re-open on Mon 16 Aug, is apparently keen for people to set up music sessions, not necessarily folk.

Calstock Arts - The Old Chapel, Calstock
Jan and I had the real pleasure of seeing Peter Knight's Gigspanner perform at this splendid 110-seat recently opened volunteer run arts venue overlooking the Tamar back in May 2010. They're also looking for people to play an acoustic set at their Friday night bar (expenses only available). Contact details and their developing mixed arts programme can be seen at www.calstockarts.org.uk. Events are timed to fit in well with a train service from Plymouth to Calstock Station, only 2 mins' walk away.

Top

New folk festival listing website
www.ukfolkfestivals.co.uk "tries to list almost every folk music festival in the UK" [and seems to do quite a good job]

(Pub) Folk Sessions
I have decided to discontinue the listing page for pub sessions on www.harbertonfolk.co.uk for two reasons: a) because this information is difficult to keep updated and b) because Trevor does an excellent job of listing such information on www.flaxey-green.co.uk, along with a wealth of other good folk information for the area. I will however continue to e-circulate session news (e.g. a new venue) as and when I'm sent it.

Top

More folk/roots music on local radio - Phonic FM (106.8 in Exeter; www.phonic.fm worldwide)
Martin Henning, Rich Cooke and Martin Hodge present 'Roots & Shoots' every Monday 6-8pm. They play folk/roots music from around the world and always include local music, often featuring live music - our next scheduled performers being Mad Dog McRea on Monday 10 May.

More-distant venue highlights
Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington (N Devon) www.theploughartscentre.org.uk:
Show of Hands Standing 14/4; Daughters of Elvin medieval music & dance-theatre 24/4; Wild Willy Barrett's Sleeping Dogz 25/4; Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes 29/4; Kevin Dempsey & Jo Broughton 7/5;
The David Hall, South Petherton (A303, Somerset) www.thedavidhall.org.uk: Battlefield Band 11/4; John Tams & Barry Coope 17/4; Acoustic Fairport 3/5 & 4/5; Luka Bloom 21/5; Bella Hardy & Anna Massie 22/5; Martin Carthy 12/6, Steve Knightley 22/6

This week's "more distant" venue highlights:
The George Hotel, South Molton (map) Bookings 01769 572514. www.georgehotelsouthmolton.co.uk
details

Top

The Blue Walnut Cafe, Chelston, Torquay (map)
is a very small and intimate venue putting on a great selection of music and more, including: Sat 10/4 - Jane Taylor; Sat 17/4 - Wizz Jones; Sat 24/4 - Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin; Sat 15/5 - Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart; Fri 21/5 - Cam Penner; Sat 19/6 - Sarah McQuaid. See www.bluewalnutcafe.com for full details and more events.

Folk music workshops in France
If you fancy combining a holiday in the Pays de la Loire Region with folk workshops with the likes of Reg Meuross, Mike Silver, Craig Morgan Robson, Johnny Coppin, Mike O'Connor or Martyn Wyndham-Read & Iris Bishop, see www.lagrandegennerie.com/2.html for more info.

Top

Folk (Social) Dance Clubs
I'm including this item in response to a request to publicise an event being held by Totnes Folk Dance Club (e.g. Sat 5th Dec, Dance to Ivor Hyde's Band, caller Robert Blackborrow, Civic Hall Totnes 8.30pm). There is in fact a large number of such clubs, including Scottish, Irish Set, Country, Playford etc. all across our area, holding regular club meetings and public events. I have never included this information in the Harberton Folk listings and don't intend to start now, but full details of most such events/meetings can be found in the monthly What's On listings on www.flaxey-green.co.uk and contact/location details for all such clubs can be found on www.devonfolk.co.uk.

New events listing website
There's a new, free, general, events website (including music, e.g. Harberton Folk) designed specifically for Totnes, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Salcombe & the South Hams (and sometimes beyond) at www.southhamsevents.co.uk. Worth a look.

Top

An 'interesting' email problem
Those of you who read my recent notes about the various problems I experience when sending these e-circulars may be interested/amused to see a (new) rejection message received from a recipient at a local educational establishment. I have highlighted the offending word in bold/red and added spaces so it's not rejected again. This word appeared in the item about Hayseed Dixie:
Microsoft Antigen for Exchange found a message matching a filter. The message is currently Identified.
Message: "hf21_30 080226"
Filter name: "KEYWORD= racial discrimination: h i l l b i l l y"
Sent from: "John Culf"

Top

A Virus Warning - but please do read this, unlike the usual hoaxes that circulate which are simply designed to clog up the email airwaves:
"There is a dangerous virus being passed around electronically, orally, and by hand. This virus is called Weary-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss, or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely. If you should come into contact with WORK, put your jacket on and take two good friends to the nearest grocery store. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolating-Neutralizer-Extract (WINE) or Bothersome-Employer-Elimination-Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system. You should forward this warning to 5 friends. If you do not have 5 friends, you have already been infected."

'Virus' warnings - Chain emails (e.g. petrol prices) - Please avoid them
With 1400+ email contacts, if there's junk going around I usually see quite a few examples of it. If you receive a chain email, such as those that warn of a terrible virus circulating which will destroy your hard disk, do please take a moment to check before forwarding it to your entire address book. Pick out a couple of salient words and put them into Google, e.g. "olympic torch email", and you'll soon see that they are invariably hoaxes, simply designed to further clog up email servers across the globe. And whilst possibly originally well intentioned, the petrol price emails doing the rounds have essentially been around since 1999 - see http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_gas_boycott_2006.htm and read the analysis/comments.

Top

Other interesting local music links
Plymouth Classical Music Concert Diary www.plyclassical.co.uk - Comprehensive month-by-month listings of all types of classical music in and around Plymouth, plus some jazz and folk, including Harberton Folk's events.
Plymouth Music Accord www.plymouthmusicaccord.co.uk - Registered Charity promoting the appreciation and performance of music in the Plymouth area. Members include local orchestras, bands, choirs, opera groups, etc. and many promoters and venues, and Plymouth Folk Festival (who have a brand new, smart website).
'Off topic' but we'll mention a couple of other local live music sources for different genres:
Totnes Early Music Society www.totnesearlymusic.org.uk - fairly self-explanatory

Somerset & Dorset (SADFOLK) folk events
A mention/reminder for a regular and comprehensive emailed listing available through www.sadfolk.co.uk (Somerset and Dorset folk) of folk events in venues large and small in those two counties, some of which are not too far away from the Harberton Folk area.

Harberton Folk Xtra - Thursday 20 October 2011

The joys of running an email circulation!
I'm really sorry to burden your In Boxes with another email today, but this is important.

Firstly, something in my e-circular sent early this afternoon resulted in a large number of messages being returned to me undelivered - supposedly because of their 'spam' content. I know this affected two major ISPs (internet service providers) - Tesco and Plusnet - and could have affected others without my knowledge.
I won't re-send the whole e-circular to everyone. For those of you that did not receive it and want to update yourselves with a plethora of new events, please follow this direct link to the website page where I draft the e-circulars and which contains today's latest missive:
www.harbertonfolk.co.uk/circulars.htm
I hope I have worked out what the 'offending' item was and will explain briefly another time when I've checked it out.

Secondly, I will however repeat the very last item in today's email because I feel it's important and the known number of people affected in Harberton has doubled since early afternoon. My wife Jan answered one such scam telephone call at 6.30pm tonight:

And finally: Apologies to one of my address groups of about 200 who may have received two copies of today's e-circular. This was totally unrelated to the above and due to a simple idiot keying error.

Thanks for your understanding
John Culf
johnculf@harbertondevon.co.uk
www.harbertondevon.co.uk
www.harbertonfolk.co.uk

Home Top